Sophia's War by Avi A Tale of the Revolution

Lives hang in the balance in this gripping Revolutionary War adventure from a beloved Newbery Medalist.

In 1776, young Sophia Calderwood witnesses the execution of Nathan Hale in New York City, which is newly occupied by the British army. Sophia is horrified by the event and resolves to do all she can to help the American cause. Recruited as a spy, she becomes a maid in the home of General Clinton, the supreme commander of the British forces in America. Through her work she becomes aware that someone in the American army might be switching sides, and she uncovers a plot that will grievously damage the Americans if it succeeds. But the identity of the would-be traitor is so shocking that no one believes her, and so Sophia decides to stop the treacherous plot herself, at great personal peril: She’s young, she’s a girl, and she’s running out of time. And if she fails, she’s facing an execution of her own.

Master storyteller Avi shows exactly how personal politics can be in this “nail-biting thriller” (Publishers Weekly) that is rich in historical detail and rife with action.

Lynne Ewing is the best-selling author of the Daughters of the Moon series, and the popular companion series Sons of the Dark and Sisters of Isis. Ms. Ewing lives in Los Angeles, California, and Washington, DC.

Unrated Critic Reviews for Sophia's War

Kirkus Reviews

Thus, they may find it difficult to empathize with Sophia’s passion for André, and all but the most romantically inclined may find Part One: 1776 (September 1776-January 1777), during which 12-year-old Sophia’s love blooms, slow-moving.

Common Sense Media

Sophia spends much of the first part of the book pining over John André, the British soldier who lives in her family's home, but Sophia herself is a compelling character, and the historical events she sees and participates in make the story move quickly, especially during the climactic chapters w...

Palatine Public Library

In 1776, 12-year-old Sophia Calderwood witnesses the execution of Nathan Hale and vows to do all she can to support the patriot cause--a desire that is intensified by the death of her older brother at the hands of the British Army, and a desire that is complicated by her feelings for a charming y...